Dash Cam Shows Texas Deputy's Close Call

DALLAS --

A video camera captured a car almost hitting a Dallas deputy on Interstate 20.

The officer was able to jump out of the way just in the nick of time.

The close encounter happened on I-20 at Mountainview.

The other car rammed into the driver's side door of the police cruiser, forcing it all the way back.

The deputy got out of his car and looked back at a second officer arriving at the scene. At that very moment, he saw another car heading his way and was able to step up on the floor board, but then realized that it was not high enough.

He jumped over the hood of the other vehicle as the approaching car barely missed his legs.

"It wasn't until I saw the video that I realized the magnitude of that little hop he made. I guess people do amazing things when their adrenaline's pumping, and he timed it perfectly. He definitely would have lost his legs in that accident," Dallas County Sheriff's Department Deputy Michael Ortiz said.

The other driver was not ticketed.

He told officers he simply didn't know there was a curve in the road, and when he went to slow down, his brakes locked up.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident.

The sheriff's department is now using the video as part of its traffic training course to show other deputies how important it is to be aware of their surroundings.

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